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On this episode we recommend and chat about some amazing and unique indie games that we have played recently. Our discussions range from a recent indie darling that was produced by a Youtuber, to a game that is self-described as "hostile", to a loving homage to ps1 era survival horror, and not one but TWO games about fishing.

This week we take a look at what is arguably 2024's biggest gaming success story, the anarchic co-op third-person-shooter, Helldivers 2. We discuss why its madcap multiplayer works so well, while also covering its filmic inspirations and recent controversies.  

We take a brave step out of our video game comfort zone for this episode, as we discuss the global nerdy sensation, Dungeons and Dragons. We delve into its history, rising from the heady years of the 1970s, looking at it as both a business, and as a favourite pastime for legions of fans and content creators alike.

On this episode we dwell on that most violent of video game protagonists, Kratos, as we discuss the latest two games in his much storied franchise. We discuss these games' positions as both sequels and reboots, and their intimate character work and stellar combat, while also wondering if maybe they went too far in certain places.

On this episode we take a look at the two modern classics in the The Legend of Zelda franchise, discussing their boundless creativity and making comparisons to other open world games, while also being a tad wistful for the Zelda games of yesteryears.  

This episode takes a look at 16th entry in the beloved Final Fantasy series, a game that ended up being quite divisive due to the big swings it takes against the established formula of the franchise. Topics bounce between exhilarating kaiju battles, to milquetoast side quests. From amazing voice acting and localisation, to a story that tends to spin its wheels. There are no major spoilers for the game, but the whole story is covered in vague terms in order to pick out the things that work in this game, and the things that really don't.  

 

This week Kev shines a light on some "hidden gems" from 2023, and takes a look at some of the best games that you may have missed from last year. The games covered range from first-person horror games and weird visual novels to cute climate-themed climbing capers. Check it out to see what you might have missed. Or maybe you've played them all already, in which case your Cool Gamer pin is already in the post.

Transport back to the days of waggling remotes, as we take a look at Nintendo's colossal console success story, the Wii. We get nostalgic about playing Wii Sports on Christmas morning, soaring through the cosmos in Super Mario Galaxy, and much more. But we also question the Wii's legacy, and we wonder, despite its success, did it actually change the industry for the better?

This week for the pod we welcome a very special quest, Stephanie! Steph has been an avid gamer since she was young, and today we chat about her early exposure to games via educational games, Animal Crossing, and, of course, the Mass Effect universe. 

 

We had a few issues with sound on this one, so apologies!  

On this episode we take a look back at gaming during 2023, starting with January and rattling through the months in the classic manner, not only discussing some of the notable releases, but also the news stories that defined the year for gaming.